love that blue comforter (and the beach too)

We got back earlier today from a great week at the beach (after all the craziness of our leaving no less). We had beautiful weather and relaxing time with my family. So here's a quick recap of our week:

Read two really great books (Eat, Pray, Love and 1000 Splendid Suns)
Watched the Mad Men Season 1 marathon
Took ben to see his first movie (Wall-E)
Played arcade games (ben didn't get that in skee-ball you want to keep in your lane)
Spend tons on time on the beach playing in the sand
Caught up with my old teaching friend and her son who live in Wilmington
Ate seafood in SO many ways (and lots of i-cream- what ben calls it)
Tried two new restaurants (and visited our favorites too)
Watched the fireworks on the boardwalk while eating the best homemade doughnuts
Took several early morning walk/runs on the beach before anyone was up
Took ben to the local park multiple times to use his new tricycle and feed the ducks
Went bike riding through the area and admired the million $$$ houses
Went walking on the beach with my family at sunset
Took the ferry to Southport and loved the sun on our faces and more birds to feed
Swung on the front porch during an afternoon rain storm
Got up at 6 on this last morning to watch the sunrise on the Kure pier by myself and to give thanks for a wonderful trip with my family

can we just leave already?

so in the last 24 hours god has decided we should not be at the beach this week. our electrician that was suppose to be here on Thursday came at 5 yesterday and had to leave the job undone until after we are back. I washed a pen that ruined a whole load of clothes including all of bill's shorts, and then as we were about to pull out this morning, I noticed that our hot water heater was leaking. so we are waiting on the repair guy before we go. luckily in all my cleaning madness I had run the dishwasher, washed all the clothes, and in general got the house ready to go. I am very proud to say that I finished my whole house clean out prior to us leaving whenever that may be today!

stealing from the badger- a movie review

If you haven't checked out my husband's blog (the waking badger) do so by morning as I am sure there will be a movie review of the Dark Knight. In his vain of reviewing movies and uploading trailers, here is mine of this kick-ass movie!

After racing to drop ben off and meet up with friends for an adult "pb&j free" evening, we get to the theater just in time to get decent seats. so things I liked: styling of the movie- very dark, great mood and intensity throughout, I couldn't believe this was Chicago, major chase sequence goes in my top five behind Ronin and Matrix, Maggie Gyllenhall over Katie Holmes as Rachel (maggie rocks in Secretary if you haven't see this indy film), Aaron Eckhard as Two-face (also good in Thank you for Smoking), Christian Bale and his way of making a suit the sexist garment a man can wear (check him out in the Machinist), and Heath Ledger stole the show as the Joker. He totally remade this character from the late 80s version.

He was so good that it was hard to watch knowing he will never recreate. He was so good in Monsters Ball that I have a hard time not seeing him in that role in any other movie sense, but he should be nominated come major award season, he was amazing! Enjoy if you see!

happy housewife heroine?

It has taken me since April to finish this book (due to stopping to read book club books), but I finally finished The Feminine Mystique. What an an amazing book!

It was kinda bizarre reading her suggestions how to cure the mystique or the mask of contentment of family and childrearing that lead to housewife malaise in the 1950s/60s included some of the very things that working vs stay at home moms still differ as to what is good mothering. I have my grandmother's 1st edition in very fragile condition and it was amazing to read her comments in the margins. It made me realize how much she really struggled to find the same work/family balance that I do today as she defied norms and kept her career after marriage/kids.

I did find it amusing that Fredian predicted a woman would be running for president by 1976, and though she was a little off, I do think she would have been amazed at the dialogue about gender that the 2008 election has opened up. What am awesome and thought provoking read even if I do fall a bit into the martha stewart trap of return to domestic tranquility. thanks memaw jobe for reading along with me :-)

Have you Hugged Your candle today?

I saw this bummer sticker today and wondered if I had put this on my car what my friends would say. Probably laugh their ass off if they really knew me. It got me thinking what do my friends probably don't know about me- so I complied a top 10 list (yes that is me from halloween a few years ago. We went as a domatrix and slave. Other past halloween outfits included a west virgina wedding couple, and afro-tastic h and big pimpin' bill)

1. I love green kool-aid (especially with popcorn)

2. I hate musicals in any form, also on the hit list are most cartoons (working on this as I now have a child but didn't watch them growing up so I'm learning)

3. My high school nick name was "mama queen pee"

4. Used to play "what can I steal in chemistry" also "what can I throw out the window", I was the winner as I took a Bunsen burner and 2 titration tubes in one day.

5. Burned down part of the woods behind my house filming an AP English project on Dante's Inferno. My partner had to go the hospital. We got an A out of pity.

6. Was capt of my high school quiz bowl team and also played on my college team- Dorky at it's best but I still love trivia games or any board games.

7. Once went on a Dennys/Stucky's road trip with my friend Nathan. The ground rules were that every time we passed one, we had to go in an order something until we ran out of gas.

8. Past vocations I wanted to be at one time: Nurse, costume designer, psychiatrist, public policy analyist (teacher was never on the list)

9. Favorite music album of all time- Pretty Hate Machine- 1989 Nine Inch Nails. I do not recommend listening to this on a church retreat, you will be talked to.

10. I don't light candles around my house, so I could theoretically hug one if I so wanted- but then I would be a bigger freak than I already am.

Can I wear a Hazmat suit too?

So as my summer vacation is about 1/3 way finished I thought I would update what has gotten done off my list of 100 items over the past couple of weeks. We have been super busy and luckily my mother in law being here over the holiday helped keep and eye on ben.

90% done with garage clean out- this was an item left over from last year's list and the biggest on the list- big thanks to bill who made this possible- are you sure you can live without a hacksaw?

find a home for the excess old books and puzzles

Take a load of old computer equipment to the landfill (complete with men in hazmat suits) as this is the only place in the COUNTY that recycles them and other household chemicals- scary place once went there when pregnant and thought my son will surely have an extra limb

take a load of items to be consigned (I didn't do the Kids Exchange this year-no intervention needed- see last year's post with pics)

clean out all kitchen drawers and cabinets (calling anyone who wants a 30 year old fondue pot)

clean out all cookbooks (I collect, but there it a limit to what I will really use like "101 uses for a cake mix"that I parted with- about 40 in they were really searching- ant bait doesn't count)

clean out foyer closet and rid it of toys

Organize all gift wrap, bags, ribbon (this was really pressing you know)

clean out and organize linen closet including my sale surplus shelf

take all baby bottles to babes r us for BPA free bottle exchange

Jamfest 2- bring on peach preserves and blackberry/cherry

make my food co-op meals for July (lasagna)

Make dinner for and visit my friends with new babies (baby love is still intact and flaring up)

last...but not least set up a class Wiki for my upcoming AP Government class complete with first two weeks of assignments, discussion board, and web resources - I am really proud to be with this century although bill proclaims I'm still a luddite (http://hshsapgov.wetpaint.com/)-

Bring it on last 2/3 of the summer, I think there are still some closets I haven't attacked and maybe jamfest 3 is on the horizon.

Big Friends, Little Friends

Included on my list of 100 items is to get out with some of our baby (now toddler) friends and explore the area. In the last week I have gotten together with our friends Nathan and Katie at Pullen Park and the Farmers Market. Today we together again with Elizabeth and Katie and explored the Durham Life and Science Museum.

It was super fun for the kids as they enjoyed chasing each other, eating watermelon, feeding the ducks, and riding the train.

Thanks moms for the conversation while our little toddler tornado enjoyed their own friendships.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday, not really as it's actually in January, and since it's always cold, the one weekend of snow, and I typically am giving exams, I like to think that June 30th is my real birthday. It was my surgery date in June 2004. I think by now most friends and family know that I had gastric bypass surgery at Duke after a year long approval process. If you didn't know and you wondered what was up with me, the cat is out of the bag.

I told less than 5 people that I was going through the process including not telling my own family until months after the surgery. I have always been kinda private when it comes to my family and me personally but I know realize that I had such a good experience, why not share it if it helps others. My recovery took most of the next year and in a nutshell really sucked and was not fun. There are still lots of foods I can't eat and probably never will again (sorry Chinese food and most meats). But the trade-off was I was happy with the weight lost and the self- confidence gained.

As many folks know my major reason was that both my parents were diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in their 40's. My dad died from complications and now my mom is in what is called "end stage renal disease" and requires dialysis. I want to be here as long as I can for my family, friends, and to enjoy life. So I didn't eat cake today, instead I celebrated with a 9 minute mile something that the old heather would have never believed possible.

Talk me out of my missionary work

SO at the end of the first full week on summer vacation, I am having serious thoughts about what it would be like to be home full time. I think someone is trying to tell me something in that Bill, my doctor, even my neighborhood friends have all commented that I really need consider staying home full time. This is actually the plan once baby 2 comes along, but I have to wonder why the push to do this sooner rather than later.

I confess that my job can be a soul crushing bureaucracy at times, but I do truly feel alive when I am with my students teaching somthing I love. I don't know that I am ready to give that up just yet. I also know that although this has been a good week with ben in that we played at the pool, got together with friends, shopped the farmers market, hit a new park this week. I even managed to do Yoga at the gym two days as well as tackle 4 major items on the list of 100.

Keeping ben on daycare nap/eating schedule has helped along with watching Max and Ruby on Noggin when I needed a time out. For Bill I think it is the last bastion of his conservative beliefs that deep down he thinks moms should stay home. I also know he is really tired of my doing hours school work most nights of the week. I agree it sucks, but it comes with the job, just like traveling or sitting through multiple mindless meetings does for other professions.

With Bill moving to Microsoft this past year, we may have the opportunity to move at some point so this might be the catalyst I need for a major life change. I would actually really like to get a second masters degree, this one in public policy and either teach on the college level or work for a non-profit policy institution at some point. I refuse to believe that I am too old to consider my options including staying home with a second child for a bit. It's worth serious consideration as I think I will regret not staying home once ben and baby V part two are older and I missed an oppotunity to be with them while little.

On the political note- I'm very disappointed with the SCourt's overturn of the DC handgun ban this week. THIS is why who you elect matters as LONG after the Executive has vacated the White House as their influence over the courts continues for decades. This case is perfect for teaching selective incorpation (see earlier post) this fall so thanks party of 9!

At least their position on a death penalty case this week seems to be moving away from the Texas motto of "keeping the seat warm" as I think we are close to stripping the state's right to execute with a national moratorium. Also- looks like they also have finally decided that many of the issues surrounding GITMO are unconstitutional and that due process prevails. Amazing what a lame-duck presidency will do to the conscious of Americans and other policy making institutions. I think I hear Nixon calling and he wants his title of lowest approval rating back!

Open Letter to Barack

So as I write this my son is watching Sesame street and as I look at him I can't help but think how history will reflect on this election. Will it be the 5th realingment of party politics in our nation's history?

Right now Elmo is the most important person to him, but it is the leader of the United States that will likely impact him over the next decade as decisions about education, healthcare, taxes will impact him through a trickle-down effect the way in which public policy effects American families.

In that regard, I am disappointed to hear that Obama has decided not to take public financing of his campaign. So what, campaign finance is a snore (and I have to agree at times). But, his decision NOT to take public funds and thus cap the amount that he can spend is the first major decision as a major presidential contender. I think this shows a glimpse that of who he is and what he is willing to do to win. OP-Ed columnist David Brooks wrote last week in the New York Times that that "naive is not a word to describe Obama and he may be the smartest politician in decades to be able to succeed in politics by pretending to renounce the very system he is working from both sides of the room".

I have been a Obama supporter since he stole the show at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. He is a dynamic speaker who has the charisma and ability to lead the masses by owning the concept of change. For the first presidential election ever both Bill and I are supporting the same candidate and have even given money to his campaign (Bill's idea no less). I can only hope that Obama stays true to his supposed convictions and the man that he truly is. Inside the beltline politics changes even the best man that enters office, but this election is pivotal to regaining the nation's trust. I hope Obama will seize this moment and truly incorporate "change" that makes a lasting difference.

By the way, check out this great website I use with my students http://livingroomcandidate.org/. It is a clearinghouse for the last 60 years of presidential ads. Notice any similarities? My favorite is 1984's Morning in America

First Real Day of Summer!

So after being gone all last week with AP training plus an all day workshop on Saturday at my alma mater UNC-Chapel Hill on political satire that an old professor from grad school was presenting, "From Twain to Colbert"I am home and ready to tackle my list. I had a great week and got alot done on my class. Plus the chance to collaborate with other Gov/Politics teachers was the best part. So since my list officially started with Memorial Day weekend and so far here we go with what I've done:

Sort giant mound of filing cabinet papers

plant daylillies and hostas

plan ben's second birthday party (See photo- I think he enjoyed it)

make strawberry jam

organize all AP gov resources set up a place to work all summer

clean out outside storage room

start a give away/donate pile in the garage

go through all ben's old 0-12 month toys and consign/give away at least 50%

get family photos taken

Go out with Bill for one of at least 3 summer dates

Check out and pick one day a week summer care for ben

Update Netflix cue with my "heather movies" to watch this summer

Start Food Co-Op with friends and plan first month (made my entries today to freeze)

Good Start but so much more to go ( I did watch the past few weeks of 30 Days while ironing today- so I didn't use that time as effectively as I could have). Tomorrow I am taking bottles to babies r us for a store credit for BPA-free tomorrow plus keeping an appointment for myself in Chapel Hill. Mark two more items off!

Selective Incorporation Docterine of the 14th Amendment

If that title didn't put you to sleep, than imagine sitting through a hour lecture today on effective ways to help your students understand and then apply using the due process and equal protection clause. The worst part is that I was the one that asked the instructor to explain as I can't get my kids to understand it when I teach it. So one of my major tasks this summer it to work each week on my AP Government class that I am bringing on board this fall to my school. I have taught this class before, but it was over 5 years ago at another school, so I jumped at the chance to get to be a student all week at Wake Forest University and participate in a week long AP seminar.

I do believe that I could be an eternal student and live in a lecture hall as a career. That is if I didn't have to do any work/papers, but could spend my days listening and discussing with other like minded souls. I have a wonderful group of rising Seniors, most of all I already know from teaching them civics or through National Honor Society that I advise. We are working on the McCain and Obama campaigns in the Raleigh field offices this fall as part of the class. How cool is that!!!!

To the ultimate political junkie-

I was in the car on Friday when NPR broke into the afternoon news to announce Tim's death. I literally had to pull of the road I was so upset.

I have been a Meet the Press fan since Russert took over in the early 90's and I was suffering through my gov't teacher's 1992 election campaign portfolio that required us to watch and record a journal of the way the media represented the candidates (thanks to my gov't teacher- Mrs. Leatherwood I really did learn something other than cutting up on the back row with Nathan Pugh in your class)

I have been a fan of his sharp wit, humility, political acumen, and most of all that he made politics understandable. I cannot imagine this election season without him. Every week that I watched I was his student and in turn I think I was a better teacher to my government students for what I learned from him.

When I set up my own classroom I posted page from the Daily Show book in my classroom and included the phrase "Do your homework, Tim did" to show my respect for him. I will have to add a memorial white board on election day. I hope you are having one hell of a debate in heaven and I hope to join in when I get there.

Another Summer, Another list of 100 things

So those of you who know me, may remember that, with fervor n0rmally reserved for snake handling Pentecostal revivals, I attempted last summer to accomplish 100 things from the last day of school to the first day of school. I was in a contest with two other friends and we agreed to keep each other honest by keeping a blog detailing our accomplishment. I did well, meeting close to 90% of my list. Since I didn't meet my deadline, my "penalty" was to make a donation to a local charity.

I felt really good about using my summer for good will besides just going to the pool with Ben and watching 90210 reruns on Soap Network (yes that is true and I admit I still can't pass up a brandon walsh marathon). I digress... so as I embark on another summer I have another list. But to add to the task I am going to write more frequently and also about WHY certain tasks are on the list.

I also hope to include some political banter too as those who know me, know I am following this election like it is civics porn (is there such a thing and please god don't let James Carville know). Anyway, hope you will check back in a find out some more pieces of me you probably haven't seen. Enjoy!

In case of Fire, grab child, spouse, pets, and file cabinet

So today's task as been one I've been putting off, but alas with only days left in the countdown I had to tackle it. Our household filing cabinet looks like we were the victims of a FBI raid looking for crack. About once a year I decide to go through the mounds of receipts, tax info, "hey I should keep this newspaper clippings" and then file them or toss them.

Bill doesn't help with this task, but assures me that we MUST keep things like his file of guitar chord practice charts (although he sold his guitar long ago for 5 bucks in a yard sale). So for the last few hours I have been purging files and have made a commitment to file and toss on the first weekend of every month.

On the brighter side I can mark the following things off my list as they have been accomplished while in Florida on vacation last week:

Read (at least) 5 books that do not relate to raising kids- ok- 3 were audio books, but I am desperate at this point to mark it off (in addition to Barrel Fever and Dress your Family in Denim and Corduroy, I re-listened to Freakanomics- all on audiobook) I finally finished This I Believe collection of Essays. Earlier in the summer I read An Ordinary Man (audiobio leading to the movie Hotel Rwanda) and The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Purge my recipe file box and reorganize them into a more usable way. As I hope to start a weekly meal plan this fall, this too has been on the to do list for a good 5 years. As I collect cookbooks as well as have had a family recipe shower when I got married 10 years ago, I have a TON of things that sound good on paper, but I have never made. Here's too (NOT) making the recipe for marinated shoe peg salad that someone gave me!

3 tasks in one day!!!

So the heat is on to finish my list by the 27th. Today I got three very easy tasks completed, but still they had been on the list for the better part of a year.

1. Contact Buggy Bag about a replacement (my shopping cart/highchair cover) that broke after about 3 times using it. I love the design and the concept and it is the only one to work in places like BJ's carts. They offered to repair my bag at no cost!!!!

2. Order a NPR car decal and the book of collections of "This I believe" to use in class

3. Research the cheapest place to order my dog (Vegas) heartworm and tick medications and make an order!!!!

Ok, not a a witty entry, but then it's hot, I'm working on 5 hours of sleep, and we were asked to "leave" a library story time today due to my son's behavior- I do not get the good mommy award.

I am now equipted to take out someone's spleen on the interstate

Task #11- First Aid Kit update

Not really, nor do I have the desire to, but I went through our cars and home first aid kits and restocked them, checked exp dates, and updates with numbers of poison control, dr numbers, blood types, and the like. I really HOPE that I never have to whip out the abdominal pad, or recall my CPR class, but I am prepared to do so while administering a dose of Motrin, and applying anti-fungal ointment to the hurt masses.

Over Halfway there!!!

So just an update as in three short weeks I will be heading back to school and my "official" time to complete the 70 task will be up. Here is a list of some of the items I finished that have been marked off:

• Hosted/planed 3 separate parties (Baby Steps Birthday, Book Club, Mary Kay- this counted as 3 items as it required planning , cleaning, and food prep)
• Plant perennials in outside porch (got all at 50% off- you know I am coupon crazy)
• Make appointment with contractor for the house addition possibility
  
• Call about snack tray for stroller and car seat (none exist for my McLauren :-(
• Restart gym membership and shoot for going at least 3 times a week (this is an ongoing thing to keep up once school starts)
• Try 3 new classes at the gym (tried yoga, gentle yoga (no difference) and Pilates) Going to keep up with the yoga on Monday nights if possible
• NHS stuff (3 tasks- meeting with Dean of Students over setting up tutoring program, meeting with officers to rewrite the bylaws, set up student help with Freshmen Camp)
• Join Weight Watchers (I keep loosing and gaining the same 5 lb, Bill has lost almost 20)!
• Try 10 new healthy snacks and meals with Ben
• Go and have lunch with Bill at his work- had great Sushi!
  
• Practice baby signs with Ben and introduce 5 new signs (still really working on these going to a class on Monday at the library)
• Clean out hall closet, pantry, scrub out fridge/freezer, laundry room, drawers in kitchen
• Make a donation of money and goods to Guardian Angel (local charity that runs a thrift store)
• Hang all 12 month pics ofBen in Living Room from Duke Garden photo shoot
• Work on a tan (ok it's really vain, but I love to hang out at the pool and going to the beach for a week helped)
  

Oh for the love of clean carpet!!!

So one of my items has been to steam clean all my carpet upstairs, especially the stairs. It finally got done today!!!!!! I am kinda fanatical about clean floors and damp mop my hardwoods and the kitchen almost daily (especially if Ben has had a food fest), but the carpet I felt was getting the "hey you must have pets" smell. I bought a Bissle little green steam machine and it worked nicely on the steps. I am going to shoot for doing this once a month (which will likely be once a quarter), but I can dream. Unless Glade makes a "wet dog" or "14 year old cat with accidents" air freshener I think I am going to steam clean.

SO what can I buy for 219.47 that equally about 100 hours of work???

SO for those who read my previous post I got my hard earned check today in the mail from the consignment sale. I am happy that I made at least more than the 50 bucks I expected. I still think that my hourly salary to complete this task and mark off the list qualifies me for some govt benefits. So on a really weird note, I never got around to pricing the books that have been living in my garage for the last 2 years. Both my mom and bill's mom kept all our childhood books. Before you start thinking, "what kind of person who is a TEACHER would sell children's books", let me tell you about the condition of these books:

1. My mom kept my books in a Attic that had a squirl problem. you can image how happy I would be to give them to my son so that he could contract rabies or better let some flesh eating virus. Almost all the books had to be thrown away :-(

2. Bill's mom had a major dampness problem when she lived in Atlanta, so the books look good, but smell horrible. She didn't think they smelled bad, and brought all 10+ boxes with her thinking our children would want them. Again, great thought, but the smell alone made us toss most of them. Even though Ben eats dirt, sand, and even bark on the playground, him tasting these books made me sick.

So I had planned to just give them to Goodwill or Guardian Angel Thrift Store, but then I decided to just TRY and see if I could make anything for them as they are all hardback books. So between Mike's Used Books, Kid to Kid, and literally a woman in the parking lot of Kid to Kid would bought what they wouldn't take I got rid of all of them and earned $120.00 more bucks in cash and store credit. I think with some cleaning and activated charcoal they will smell better, but at this point, they are GONE!!!!